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Time is flying right now! I’ve gotten the edits back on GONE, Book 3 in my Aspen Lake Series. And on another writing front, research is occupying my time. I’ve found a setting I’m excited about and am having loads of fun taking notes and such. Might even go for a Sunday drive this weekend and do a little location scouting in the Bid Muddy Valley area.

But a person needs downtime! And since, by design, I lead a fairly simple life that often involves books, television, crafts, and snacks.

My Monthly Quick Five:

Listening: Right now, it’s an audiobook – David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and The Art Of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell. Just getting into this one. Gladwell is doing a great job of narrating and I’m enjoying listening to a non-fiction book.

Watching: Who else is addicted to all the cozy mystery movies? They’re like chips! Bet you can’t just watch one. Right now my fav is the Garage Sale Mystery movie series. Love it!

Snacking: Almond Butter Energy Bites from the cookbook Yum and Yummier, another book I highly recommend. Useful, practical, and healthy recipes.

Crafting: Currently I’m all about the bullet journaling and I’m using it to get back into some semblance of routine. Also, i’m addicted. Also not sure this really counts as crafting…

“More than any inheritance, more than any sacred item, more than any title, the legacy he left behind is this: as one that day in the sundance circle when he lifted me from the depths, he taught us that during our time on earth we ought to love one another, and that when our hearts are broken, we ought to work hard to make them whole again.

This is at the centre of sacred ceremonies practised by Indigenous people. This is what so many of us seek, no matter where we begin life.

I’ve spent considerable mental energy the past couple of weeks trying to figure out how to deal with the fact that’s I’m white. That’s very strange thing for me to type out – I’m a white woman. When I think of all the words I would use to describe myself ‘white’ wouldn’t even hit the top ten. Quite possibly not the top twenty. I’m not sure it would occur to me at all.

I guess that’s a case in point for white privilege.

“an invisible package of unearned assets” Peggy McIntosh

There has been considerable talk, especially in light of Black Lives Matter, asking others to listen to what needs to be said, no matter how hard it is to hear it. It reminds me of the time my son travelled to El Salvador in high school on what was essentially a mission trip. Not to build home or schools, but to spend time with the people of El Salvador in their homes to hear their stories of their country’s violent civil war and the impact it had on their lives.

Hard, harsh, cruel stories of death, loss, and violation from people who wanted their stories told and heard to than be retold and heard again by people who knew nothing of that kind of violence. Stories that were incredibly moving and very hard to read. That process also involved decompressing at the end of each day, because that kind of intense listening needs an outlet.

We cannot simply listen and listen and listen some more and at the end of the day be silent too. But first we must hear what others have to say.

Or read what they have to say. Hence my book choice and reference to the quote above. I’ve wanted to read this book for a while now and finally picked it up as one of my summer reads. Then I thought maybe I’d wait for the fall to read it in favour of a more ‘beachy’ type read. The kind of books I write! Then people died. And more people died. And the call to action was listening to what people of colour have to say about systemic racism, inequality, and ignorance .

Reading The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew is my response to that call to action. To read a book by a First Nations politician, broadcaster, musician and activist, who’s also an Honourary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. I will read his words.

Because we need to do more of what my son did in El Salvador right here at home. We need to listen, absorb the words, without prejudice. Without defence. Or defiance. The words of the people of this country who have stories of oppression, reconciliation and redemption to tell. Because we do better when we know better. But first we must listen. Read. Or both.